Volume 2. Chapter 12: "First Trip to the City."
A gift from the parents
With the dawn of his seventh birthday, Romulus was awakened by an extraordinary surprise.
His parents, Count Lucian himself and Countess Elina, entered his room, followed, as if they were conspirators, by servants carrying a massive lacquered box whose sides shimmered with gold inlay.
- "Happy birthday, my little ray," his mother sang out, bestowing a beaming smile on him.
Romulus, holding his breath, threw back the lid - and to his eyes appeared ...
A toolkit that outshines anything else you could find in the kingdom. Like a treasure.
- "This is a gift from the smiths of Argelion," Father said solemnly. - "Every blade born in our lands has come from under their hammer. From now on, they will forge your dreams as well, son."
Romulus slid his fingers over the mirrored surface of the steel cutters, lovingly felt the vise, touched the miniature anvil.
- "Thank you... I..."
His words were drowned out by Alicia's shriek as she whirled into the room:
- "Romyich! We're going to CITY!"
The road to the capital of the dominions
The Count's carriage was far from ordinary - reborn to new standards of comfort by the genius of Romulus.
Springs dampening road rage with shock absorption (no shaking!).
The interior is lined with soft cushions like clouds (Alicia immediately ascended on them like a princess on a throne).
Even glass windows are a daring challenge to luxury in this world.
The Count chuckled as he watched his son critically evaluate every detail of his creation:
- "Well, great inventor, are you satisfied with the fruit of your labors?"
- **"You bet! But there's no limit to perfection - like *heated seats* in winter... "**
Alicia, theatrically, rolled her eyes:
- "Here we go again!"
A city that has changed
As the carriage pulled into the capital of Argelion's domain, Romulus looked out the window as if mesmerized, and was stunned.
Everywhere, people flew on bicycles like flocks of birds conquering the sky.
The merchant, balancing, carried baskets of vegetables on a cargo bike like an acrobat.
The children, laughing loudly, raced through the streets on the scaled-down models like little racers.
Even the city guards kept watch on fortified bicycles with metal shields, like new age knights.
- "They're... they're everywhere!" - Romulus exhaled, amazed at the magnitude of the change.
The Count, in a paternal way, clapped him on the shoulder:
- "You gave them wings. Now they call it the Argelion wheel."
Meeting the people
When the carriage stopped in the main square, the people, like a tide, began to arrive.
- **"It's a **young gentleman!"
- **"The **inventor!"
- **"Look, he's a child!"
Romulus, burning with embarrassment, stepped out of the carriage like a timid little beast out into the light.
The first to approach him was a girl about eight years old, on a pink bicycle, just like the one he had given Alicia, like a messenger of joy.
- **"Thank you! Now I *make my own way* to the market!"** she handed him a braided bracelet like a jewel. - "This is for you in return!"
Then others came up:
An old soldier leaning on a bicycle crutch like a faithful comrade.
A young artisan using a bicycle to deliver tools, like a messenger of progress.
Even the local priest, once branded a "devil's car" and now enjoying every ride like a pilgrim who has found faith.
Everyone thanked, shook hands, gave modest gifts as if declaring their love.
Alicia, conspiratorially, whispered in his ear:
- "Now you're a real celebrity."
Romulus blushed like a ripe fruit.
An unexpected question
When the crowd thinned a bit, a skinny boy in shabby clothes approached him, like a shadow that had detached itself from the wall.
- **"Sir...can the *poor* also buy a bicycle?"
Romulus pondered, as if searching for the answer to the most important question.
- "How much do you have?"
- "Three coppers..."
The Count frowned, faintly, as if warning against a rash move, but did not interfere.
Romulus smiled as if an epiphany had come over him:
- **"You know what? I'll come up with a cheap model. I promise."
The boy's face lit up as if the sun had peeked out from behind the clouds.
Homecoming
In the evening, on the way back, the Count asked, piercing the silence of the carriage:
- **"Do you *really* intend to make cheap bikes?"
- Yes. And cheap toilets. And **crap stoves."
- **"But...that's **direct damages."
Romulus stared out the window, at the sun receding over the horizon, as if searching for the truth:
- **"No, Father. This is an **investment in the future."
The system, like a heavenly voice, noted:
[🎉 ADVERTISEMENT: **"People's Hero "** ]
■ Effect:
- The residents of the dominions **trust** you 30% more.
- The chance of **rebellions** has been reduced to 0%.
Alicia fell asleep hugging his arm like a good luck charm.